What is it?
The Bowel Cancer Screening Programme invites men and women between the ages of 60 and 69 (who are registered with a GP) to take part in bowel screening every two years.
The screening is undertaken by individuals performing a Faecal Occult Blood Test (FOBt) in the form of a home testing kit. The kit is then sent back for analysis.
If there is a positive result, the patient will be referred for investigations at their local screening centre.
How is it organised?
The programme is organised by splitting the country into areas. Each area of the country has a programme “Hub” and a number of screening centres. In Sussex, the Hub is in Guildford.
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust hosts the Screening Centre for the Sussex Bowel Cancer Screening Programme with screening sites at:
-
Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust - Royal Sussex County Hospital
-
East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust – Conquest Hospital Hastings
-
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust - Worthing and Southlands Hospitals
The Hub:
-
provides the call and recall service which issues invitations
-
assembles and dispatches test kits
-
runs a laboratory to process test kits
-
provides a free telephone helpline for the public (0800 707 60 60)
-
dispatches test results
-
facilitates polyp surveillance for screening patients
The Screening Centres:
-
run screening nurse clinics, colonoscopy clinics and books and runs follow-up clinics
-
Provides alternative investigations where colonoscopy is not appropriate
What is the pathway?
All individuals with positive test results will be invited to attend a nurse clinic appointment for full discussion of the next steps of the process. This appointment will include an explanation of the investigative procedure to be undertaken, usually a colonoscopy.
The Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, Worthing Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in Hastings are accredited endoscopy units who provide colonoscopy for patients referred through the Bowel Cancer Screening Programme.
Who do I need to contact if I have questions?
Free national helpline - 0800 707 60 60
Explaining a colonoscopy: www.remedica.com
National NHS Bowel Cancer Screening website at:
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/bowel
